Economic Hitmen

Monday, July 20, 2015

[SDCPJ] StopALEC Fest 2015 in San Diego, July 22-24

For our peace community who want to be informed and possibly get involved...

---------- Forwarded message ----------

PRESS RELEASE / MEDIA ADVISORY -- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ALEC to Draw More Protestors than Attendees in San Diego

American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) conducts improper corporate lobbying events as if they are a nonprofit charity

"ALEC, You're not welcome in California" says San Diego

SAN DIEGO (July 16, 2015) -- On July 22, 2015, the Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego will host the 42nd annual meeting of ALEC -- the American Legislative Exchange Council -- as protestors make it clear that ALEC is not welcome in California.

"ALEC is how unscrupulous corporations avoid lobbying regulations," said organizer Ray Lutz of Citizens' Oversight. "Why spend time at each state when you can bring state elected officials to one posh resort and train them to do your bidding? It's disgusting, displaying the worst of corporate America, and an obvious and clear violation of propriety."

Lutz said there are many different groups involved in this event, and more protest and educational events are still being planned for the three day period (7-22 through 7/24) of the ALEC convention. "ALEC will learn that San Diego is not happy to host such a group," Lutz commented. "We expect more protestors at this event than attendees being wined and dined by the Koch brothers and their friends."

ALEC gives state legislators "scholarships" for junkets to posh resorts to learn what the corporations want, then go back to their jobs ready to recite the slogans and push through legislation designed by the corporate sponsors -- all in secret.

The organization's rules give corporations equal votes as legislators to approve model legislation. If corporations don't like it, it does not move forward.

WE MUST EXPOSE AND STOP THIS CORPORATE LOBBYING MACHINE AND REVERSE THOSE POLICIES SECRETLY INTRODUCED BY ALEC OPERATIVES! ALEC IS UNDEMOCRATIC AND JUST PLAIN WRONG!!

Out of State Politicians who are on vacation here with their millionaire and billionaire friends should be back home working to make the lives of their constituents better, not scheming with lobbyists how to make their lives harder.

But ALEC has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in corporate lobbyist money on this vacation for politicians and corporate lobbyists so they can come up with a new round of bills which will harm America's families.

The result of this junket: dozens of bills will be written by ALEC and forced into law across the country with no input from the voters whose lives will be affected. (More than 680 bills proposed by ALEC over the years).

These bills are nothing more than a way for the rich and powerful to squeeze every last dime they can out of families like ours all across the nation.

We do things differently here in California and are a model for the nation, and it's time we stand up to ALEC to let them know they are not welcome here.

ALEC Keynote Speakers "Hall of Shame"

Governor Scott Walker

Senator Ted Cruz

Governor Mike Huckabee

Elbert Lin, Solicitor General, WV

State Representative Rick Miller, TX

San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer

Dr. Arthur Laffer

Travis Brown

ALEC Corporate Participants "Hall of Shame" These companies are engaged in illegal "lobbying" activities through ALEC. Activists: Do not give any business to these companies!